Superintendent Carla Santorno today announced new principal assignments for the 2012-2013 school year, basing the assignment decisions on the best match between each principal’s strengths and an assessment of each school’s needs.
New assignments include:
Stadium High School
• Principal Kevin Ikeda, who transfers from Gray Middle School
“We wanted to continue to increase the achievement of all kids at Stadium High School. Kevin has a good track record of that,” Santorno said. “He knows a lot of the parents and students because of his recent work as principal at Meeker Middle School. The committee wanted somebody who was ready for high parent engagement and to build that parent community. Kevin also has a way of building relationships with students.”
Gray Middle School
• Principal Brenda McBrayer, who transfers from Truman Middle School
“Kevin and the Gray faculty have made great progress on their goals with students,” Santorno said. “Brenda is a strong instructional leader who can continue that work.”
Truman Middle School
• Principal Justina Johnson, who transfers as assistant principal from Foss High School
“We have several assistant principals who we feel are ready for principal assignments,” Santorno said. “We think Justina is a good match for Truman. She’s a strong instructional leader and can build on Brenda's work. They have similar philosophies about how to get the best from our kids.”
Two Tacoma Public Schools administrators – one new to the district – get new leadership roles as Superintendent Santorno begins to refocus the organization around her priorities of innovation and academic achievement.
Santorno appointed Donald Lloyd as director on special assignment. Lloyd will work specifically with Human Resources (HR) and principals next year as a liaison for staffing issues, evaluation and general HR issues that may occur in the first year of a new assistant superintendent.
Lloyd has worked for Tacoma Public Schools for more than 30 years – most recently as director of elementary schools, supervising principals at nearly half of Tacoma’s elementary schools.
Lloyd began his professional career as a teacher at McKinley and Lowell elementary schools, served as school counselor at Grant Elementary School and Stewart Middle School and as Magnet Program coordinator and counselor at Lister Elementary School.
Lloyd was promoted from instructor into progressively higher leadership roles such as assistant principal at Mason and Meeker middle schools, assistant superintendent/elementary principal at the American International School in Lagos, Nigeria, principal at Manitou Park Elementary School and director of Title I/LAP, Indian Education, Rites.
Lloyd earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Washington and his Master of Science, Counseling Psychology at Central Washington University.
New to Tacoma Public Schools, Janell Newman will take over as the director of secondary education July 1. Newman will supervise principals at all Tacoma high schools. Jay Reifel previously served in that role as acting high school director.
Newman was a long-time assistant principal and co-principal at Central Kitsap High School. She worked at the Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction as assistant superintendent for school improvement and worked the past two years as an OSPI contractor on the federal School Improvement Grant process that oversaw reforms at low-performing schools across the state.
“Janell brings a tremendous amount of expertise at the building, district and state levels,” said Deputy Superintendent Joshua Garcia. “She is passionate about student success and will be an excellent advocate for our community.”
Expect more administrative changes. The district is taking applications for the human resources assistant superintendent position vacated by Laurie Taylor, who is retiring. The district also is interviewing for principal at Lowell Elementary School and two elementary school directors.